Narayanpet Saree, traditional patterned weaves, shining revival

Narayanpet Sarees are traditional handlooms made in Narayanpet, a town in Mahbubnagar District, abricA.P., India.  The characteristic Zari check patterns on a silk or cotton body with a contrasting colour temple border and plain border on both sides, are distinguishing features of the Narayanapet Sari. A family tradition involving all its members, the Narayanpet handlooms are woven in silk and cotton, though the preference was once more for silk on account of the returns.

Narayanpet Sarees originally came through a Marathi influence; the royal patronage of Shivaji, the Marathi ruler. Later Lokapalli Sansthanam, an organized body, devoted efforts to see this traditional art form flourish. Even today, wearing a Narayanpet Saree is considered auspicious, and offering of the same is meant for the Goddess.

The Narayanpet  saree has a fineness count of 80:80. Fineness count is a number expressing how fine the fabric is. Higher the count, finer the material. Here fineness is indicative of the fibres per unit length of warp and weft.

The handloom weaving of the Narayanpet Silk fabric could take 2-3 days to complete. Comparatively, a Narayanpet Cotton Saree would take a day to weave. It is roughly estimated that there are about 1000 families or slightly more, involved in the making of this ethnic fabric. Employing vegetable dyes, the Narayanpet Saree has colours both rich and bright. The colour is mostly retained throughout the life of the fabric.

The Saree making process involves separation of gum from the yarn, bleaching so that the yarn loses its natural colour and would readily acquire the vegetable dye colour. Washed again after colouring and dried in shade for fastness of colour to be retained, the yarn is spun into threads. Threads are laid out on the warp (length wise lay) and rolled onto small sticks for the weft (breadth wise weaving).

A weaver makes 30 sarees from one beam of warp. It would take a month to complete weaving of one beam. Narayanpet handloom sarees are traditionally woven in the interlocked-weft technique.

Geographical Indication(GI) Status has been awarded to the Narayanpet Saree in April 2013. The GI status recognises the valuable contribution made by these weavers in keeping alive a cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh and is a big relief to the beleaguered weavers of Narayanpet.

Narayanpet Saris are worn in their various forms for different occasions.

Fancy blockfloral prints on narayanpet cotton saree is preferred for daily casual, by college professors, corporate women and teachers.

The Pure Handloom Narayanapet Sari is fashionable wear with its kundans on thread embroidery designs, and zari border with an attractive pallu. It is generally worn for college parties, festivals and event functions.

Unnati  Silks has believed in healthy fusion of traditional and trendy.Combining the basic fabric with different combinations of prints, patterns, colours and applied to different styles, new seamless versions have emerged. 

Pure cotton plain body with traditional pattern designer pallu and coloured borders,

Or pure cotton sarees with block prints on body with designer block-printed pallu with multi-colour double borders,

Or pure cotton plain body sarees with temple design zari border and zari border pallu with plain borders in moderate colours.

These are but a few examples of Unnati’s innovative experiments on healthy fusion with Narayanpet sarees.

Unnati Silks, devoted to ethnic sarees and salwar kameez materials, has trendy designs, attractive patterns, pleasing colours and combinations in its wide collection of Rajkot Silk Patola Sarees and Cotton Patola Sarees at very reasonable prices. Dispatch is within 24 hours of order, with free delivery & COD for retail, and world-wide express shipping.  Contact: UNNATI SILK PRINTS PVT. LTD,#3-4-360, Vajra Complex, General Bazar (Tobacco Bazar), M.G.Road, Hyderabad-500003. AP,India.040-64555251 or 97000 57744. www.unnatisilks.com

online shop latest andhra handloom sarees video by unnatisilks

For a region known as the rice bowl of South India, and with other advancements in industry, the Andhra region can also boast of having the highest number of traditional weaving centres or handloom centres in the whole of India. Andhra Handlooms are the symbol of harmony and simplicity while still maintaining a dignified existence. 

Handlooms that include pure handloom cotton and rich lustrous cotton silk pattu sarees, Andhra Handlooms are known for their quiet play in colors, neither dull or pale nor very bright. The Andhra Handloom sarees speak of soft womanly allure and slightly rich feel. No wonder these sarees have got a good response from the market.

Andhra handloom sarees are simple weaves of smooth texture, soft feel, that are in attractive colors, vibrant but not hitting the eye. Good count weaves the lattice is fine for elaborate prints, but the general patterns are simple geometric or light distributed motifs with captivating borders in varied colors.

There is nothing highlighted nor attention centric, yet the saree as a whole by virtue of its simple color play and contrast borders , provides elegance and allure to the wearer of the saree.

There is a special range of Andhra handlooms at Unnati Silks that has simple offerings in cotton, exclusive silk and cotton blend pattus. The pure handloom cotton sarees with the checks pattern of lightly adorned to distributed motifs in bright colors with contrast borders  

would do well for the casual occasions, be it office, school or college, for regular use, for the informal parties, social gatherings, outings etc. The zari laden borders are for the more exclusive cotton silk plain field pattus that would do very well for weddings, large parties, festivals, traditional functions. There are two variations in borders, each liked by their own following.

There are equal borders on the top and bottom in shining lustrous zari on both sides of the dark field. In the more grandiose version you have rich sparkling zari borders at the top and bottom but the bottom border is wide and eye-catching for the excessive width. While both versions are for the exclusive weddings, grand parties, festivals etc., the latter also does well for bridal attire.

Sometimes the pure handloom cotton sarees have color play with contrasting color stripes of different widths for the top and bottom borders. The Pallu or end piece would also be having the same design or pattern, to maintain the continuity.

Unnati silks, largest ethnic online Indian shop offers exquisite designer Andhra Handloom sarees with matching blouse for sale. The Online shopping store has the widest range of ethnic Indian Sarees and Salwar Kameez.

At Unnati Silks, you can buy online unique, fancy, exclusive collection of Traditional, Wedding, bridal attire, stylish, party, trendy fashion, formal, corporate, office, daily casual saris in silk, cotton, sico, art silk georgette, chiffon,dupion, tussar, organza, crepe, gicha, jute and other fabric varieties at attractive prices.

You can purchase online at Unnati silks and the products will be dispatched within 24 working hours of placing the order. We have free shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) facility for Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Ernakulam, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh and many other Indian cities. We also do Worldwide express shipping to countries like UK in cities like London, Leicester, Canada in cities like Ottawa, Quebec, USA in cities like New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Seychelles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and many more.